Bel is the name of a great and prominent pagan deity, revered as the chief god of ancient Babylon. His name is an Akkadian form of the common Semitic word Baal, meaning “Lord” or “Master.” In the prophetic books of the King James Version, the name Bel is inextricably linked with the pride of Babylon and the certainty of God’s absolute judgment upon all false gods.
Bel in Prophetic Condemnation
The prophet Isaiah uses Bel to symbolize the utter failure of human idols and the impotence of the false religion promoted by Babylon. Bel, the supposed mighty master of the heavens and the earth, is shown to be nothing more than a burden:
“Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.” (Isaiah 46:1, KJV).
This prophecy ridicules the Babylonian gods. Far from sustaining their worshipers, Bel and Nebo must themselves be carried away as helpless, heavy cargo by tired animals during the invasion, proving them to be lifeless creations of man.
The Judgment Declared
The prophet Jeremiah further emphasizes the judgment ordained by the Almighty God upon Bel and the entire Babylonian system. The overthrow of Bel and the desecration of his massive idol were central to the eventual fall of the city and the release of God’s people from captivity.
Jeremiah prophesies the desolation of Babylon, specifically naming the pagan idol as the object of destruction:
“Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.” (Jeremiah 50:2, KJV).
And again, linking the fall of the god to the restoration of His people:
“And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.” (Jeremiah 51:44, KJV).
The Contrast: The True Lord vs. The Burden
The story of Bel provides a perfect prophetic contrast that upholds the Defence of the Truth. While the pagan god Bel was a burden to be carried and was utterly confounded by human armies, the Lord God of Israel is the one who carries His people:
“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” (Isaiah 46:4, KJV).
Bel was shattered and silenced; the God of the Bible is the ever-living and eternal deliverer who judges the false idols of the world.